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One local Killarney lady, who is preparing to step it up on the dancefloor - has come up a unique fundraiser – by placing milk bottles around the town.
Karen Greene, who is taking part in Strictly Come Dancing at the INEC on March 8 for the Irish Cancer Society Killarney and South Kerry Branch, is planning to put the specially designed bottles in shops and businesses – and is asking for your loose change.
This local SCD fundraiser has over the years raised over €200,000 for The Irish Cancer Society - and locals are hoping to build on that amount this year.
This year will see 12 couples take to the floor, including Karen and her partner John Lyne who works in Murphy’s Bar.
And her children, Mark, who is captain of St Pauls Scotts Lakers, Johnathon, Michelle and Denis, and grandchildren Ellie-Ana, Levi and Ruby are all looking forward to seeing her dancing on the night.
To try and raise as much as possible Karen wanted to come up something unique, and one day while sitting at home enjoying a cuppa she saw the milk bottle on her table.
“The idea came about at my kitchen table when I was wondering how I was going to raise funds,” Karen told the Killarney Advertiser.
“The glass milk bottle, which I get from Chris Maloney from Ballymac Dairys, was there and I thought how about I put them into shops and businesses locally. People can donate their loose change.
“Sometimes people are embarrassed that they only have 20 cent or 10 cent – I want it – it all adds up. People think fundraisers are looking for huge sums of money. I’m doing it this way that if every one individual can put small change in, it accumulates and benefits someone somewhere. Even the smallest of pebbles will make outward ripples even in the largest pools.”
She plans to put bottles into Centra Muckross, Sheehan’s Costcutters on the Ross Road, O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy on New St., Gallivan Murphy Hooper Dolan Insurance/It’s For Rent, Halo Hairdresser on High St., Maher’s Meats and Alure at the Reeks, from February 11 to 18.
Also, from February 4 to 8, the bottles will be in St Brigid’s and Presentation Secondary schools.
“I want to thank the committee and Killarney Printing for doing the labels. I’m looking forward to dancing with John, who has been very patient with me. Best of luck to all the other dancers too.”
And she added that if anyone wants to buy tickets they can contact her on 087 9517582.
Tickets are also on sale from all dancers, which are soon to be announced, at the INEC box office, and from committee members.